John Galliano found guilty of anti-Semitic abuse

John Galliano, the fallen fashion designer, has been found guilty of hurling anti-Semitic abuse at fellow drinkers in a bar in the French capital, but escaped a prison sentence as the judge took into account his apology to victims.

08 September 2011

John Galliano at the end of his autumn/winter 2011 Christian Dior couture show. Photo: REX

The flamboyant 50-year old Briton was not present in court for the verdict, in which he received a suspended 6,000-euro (£5,200) fine, meaning it goes on his criminal record but he will not pay the fine unless he re-offends within five years.

The Paris court found him guilty of "public insults based on origin, religious affiliation, race or ethnicity" during two separate rows at the La Perle bar in Paris' Marais district.

The scandal over the insults cost Mr Galliano his job as creative director of Christian Dior days before the label's autumn-winter 2011 catwalk show in March.

He was later ousted from his eponymous label, also owned by Dior's parent company.

In one incident in February, customer Géraldine Bloch said he branded her "dirty Jewish face" and "'dirty whore' at least a thousand times" as she sipped cocktails with her friend Philippe Virgitti. He also targeted Ms Bloch's 'ugly eyebrows' and 'cheap thigh boots" in a 45 minute tirade overheard by several witnesses.

The third plaintiff, Fatiha Oummedour said a drunken Mr Galliano had repeatedly called her an "ugly Jewish -----" at the same bar last October.

A video of Mr Galliano again at La Perle was aired in which he is seen saying: "People like you ought to be dead, your mothers, your forefathers would all be ------- gassed. I love Hitler."

Cutting a frail, contrite figure in his day-long June trial, he apologised profusely, swearing he had "no recollection" of making the incendiary remarks because of his addiction to sleeping pills, alcohol and Valium.

The presiding judge Anne-Marie Sauteraud, said there was a "web of proof" that he had shouted the abuse in a way which was "audible to the public" and that Mr Galliano had "sufficient awareness of his act despite his triple addiction and fragile state."

But the fine fell short of the maximum sentence in such cases of a 22,000 euro fine and 6-month prison sentence as the court took into account his apology to the plaintiffs during the

trial. It also noted the "values of respect and tolerance to which the defendant generally adheres" in his work.

Other mitigating factors were his lack of previous criminal convictions and the treatment for drug and alcohol addiction he has sought since his arrest in Arizona and Switzerland.

The judge said Mr Galliano had told the court he chose not appear in person for the verdict to avoid another "confrontation with the press".

In addition to the fines, he was sentenced to pay 16,500 euros in legal fees, plus 1 euro in symbolic damages to each of the plaintiffs and civil parties in the case.

Speaking afterwards, Miss Bloch's lawyer Yves Beddouk said he was happy with the relatively lenient verdict as the designer had already paid a "heavy price by being shamed the world over" for his behaviour.

"The fact that he has lost his status as a fashion icon and artistic director of Dior is his biggest punishment and I think the court understood that," he said. "The verdict will serve as an example."

Mr Galliano's lawyer said the suspended sentence was a "very strong sign" that the court had taken on board his apology and ongoing treatment.

"(He) is relieved these eight months are behind him. He's looking forward to a future with understanding and forgiveness hopefully, and to put all of this behind him," he said.